I took a deep breath before remembering the incense. I coughed and accustomed to these episodes, I caught Severus long before he collapsed to the ground. I held him close while he rallied. When I heard a soft, “I’m alright,” from him, I released my hold.
“We have to move,” he said, looking around as if surprised to find himself in an underwater palace. We both approached Galahad. I coaxed him to sit up and between us we lifted him to his feet. His hand began the now familiar tugging and clawing at his throat, and we had no choice but to ignore it and continue back the way we’d come so we’d reach this box before The Lady’s show stopped.
I watched Severus struggle to remain focused and connected to me when all he wanted to do was collapse in a corner. His dedication to me, to us, to Albion and Camelot constantly amazed me. I loved him deeply.
We half carried, half dragged Galahad through the rough corridors and back to the finer hallways. When we reached the junction Galahad managed to make us understand we had to turn right and we soon realised we were in The Lady’s private suite of rooms. They were sparse, lacking any real colour and the decoration depicted a world of austere reverence rather than enjoyment. It was cold and distant.
Galahad drew me to a stop in front of a plain wooden door with a single glyph on the front. He pointed to it and I lifted my hand to the latch.
“Wait,” Severus said, reaching out. I turned toward him and frowned. “It could be enchanted,” he clarified.
I remembered Lancelot once complaining bitterly about fey insanity over security when he’d been hit by one of Morgana’s spells on a security document. My father had laughed at him while he sucked his fingers from the burn of power. The urge to place my head against the door and just weep for days because I needed my mentors so badly, almost destroyed me, until Galahad placed a hand on my shoulder. I looked at him.
“I understand,” he managed, those dark eyes clear for a moment.
“How?” I asked.
“The bonding,” he said simply.
I couldn’t help it, I drew him into my arms and we embraced. The hug of grieving brothers. It gave me strength.
“It’s clean,” Severus announced happily.
I released Galahad and we opened the door to The Lady’s study.
CHAPTER SIX
It looked like a tidy version of my own neglected office in Camelot with a large desk, quill and ink, sealing wax and lamps. A heavy chair was behind the desk, surprising me because it was built for comfort and another for visitors in the corner. It didn’t look like it had ever been used. Books lined the shelves, which lined two walls and just one painting of The Lady hanging over a cold fireplace. There were few pieces of ornamentation. A thick rug covered the floor and my feet sank into the wool as I approached the desk. In the centre sat a golden box.
It wasn’t much larger than the palm of my hand but stood about a hand-span tall. Heavy decoration covered the sides and the door. It weighed a great deal when I picked it up and the decoration told a story in the flowing images favoured by the fey. A hunt for a wolf and stag. I could hardly believe it. They were racing shoulder to shoulder while dogs and men on horses chased them with a woman leading the charge.
“Bitch,” I muttered under my breath.
How long had she hated my father and uncle? How could anyone live with that depth of loathing? I opened the door and inside sat a small vial, the same shape as the ones I carried for sex, but the liquid in this was red.
“Do I smash it?” I asked Severus.
“I don’t know,” he said, approaching me. “If we smash it and get it wrong we might never retrieve his mind.”
I grunted and stuffed the box into my pack. “Time to go,” I said to Galahad who stood looking at a bookshelf with his head cocked on one side.
He smiled at me and my heart melted. I cupped his jaw and he kissed my wrist, still smiling. “Come on, beautiful,” I said, rubbing my thumb over the scars on his cheek.
“Time to go,” he said happily.
Severus took Galahad’s hand and we left the study without disturbing anything else. I shut the door carefully. We began to retrace our steps when I heard something from the direction of the vast hall we’d found. Voices.
“We need to move,” I said, quietly. Severus glanced at me in alarm. “Just stay calm,” I whispered to him. A silent nod was my reply.
The three of us started to move with more speed, almost jogging as we wove through the complex of tunnels and hallways.
The sound of pounding feet against flagstones ahead of us brought me to a crashing halt with Galahad almost slamming me to the ground. The soft murmur of male voices made me push Galahad and Severus into an alcove doorway. I watched soldiers heading for the room containing the portal.
“Shit, fuck, bugger,” I muttered. My legs were shaking and my hand sweated in my heavy gloves. I couldn’t think clearly enough and I knew I needed more of the bugleweed. I looked at Severus.
“Holt,” he said in warning, clearly recognising my request.
“We have no choice. I’m going to have to carve a path through them and right now I can’t fight a lamb,” I hissed with urgency. My heart pounded in my ears and started to tremble. The speed of withdrawal was enhanced by the stress I was under.
Severus muttered something repeatedly under his breath and dug out the small tin. He opened it and selected the smallest leaf he could find. When he handed it over to me there were tears in his eyes. I looked away, taking the drug with a shaking hand. The moment I placed it under my tongue and the familiar tingle began I knew I could take on an entire army.
“Keep Galahad safe,” I told Severus.
“Who is going to keep you safe?” he asked bitterly.
“You are,” I told him but it was his turn to look away.
I had no choice. We were going to die if I didn’t do something dramatic. I checked the corridor and we left the room. We ran down the hall, keeping Galahad in the centre. It twisted left and so did we, then took a right and I stopped us. Guards were standing either side of the arch leading to the portal and I could see more inside. I needed a distraction. I couldn’t kill both men without raising a hubbub of noise bringing down the rest of the army.
Without really considering the implications I grabbed Galahad and pushed him out in front of us. Severus gasped. Galahad stood in the middle of the corridor, instantly noticed by the guards. They shouted a warning; Galahad pulled at his torc and frowned at them, then me, who they couldn’t yet see.
“Hey, you, what the hell are you playing at?” said one of the guards as he came toward us, drawing his weapon.
“Must leave,” Galahad said, pointing to the portal.
“I don’t think so,” the guard said, reaching out for Galahad.
My companion grabbed his arm, turned the soldier against his chest, shifted from controlling the arm to the neck and twisted. The man’s neck snapped audibly. The other guard rushed forward without issuing a command to stop and I stepped out from the shadows my sword taking him in the guts under the short breastplate. I twisted and drew the blade out effortlessly. The man died instantly, his intestines all over his feet and the body of his friend.
“Good,” Galahad said happily. He picked up a sword. I glanced at Severus who shrugged and the three of us approached the portal room.
“I’m leaving,” Galahad announced to the ten men in the room.
Chaos erupted. Galahad and I set to work. To fight again with him at my side was an honest joy. We wove through the room, one each side, turning and twisting, dancing and killing. Blood flew, men cried out in pain and we won.
“We are leaving,” Galahad said, panting slightly.
I grinned up at him. “Yes we are.” He smiled and reached to wipe blood off my cheek. I’d never known him so tender, not even after my rape. The shining of the portal beckoned us. Severus stepped over two bodies and vanished into the haze. Galahad and I moved as one and the haze dispersed completely. For the first time I saw the plain
back wall of the room.
“Did you really think you could just walk off with my son?” asked a cold female voice. Galahad made a strangled mewling noise, turning back and raising his sword.
I turned more slowly. I wasn’t dead yet, so I guessed she wanted a round of ‘bait the King of Camelot’.
“He is my bonded companion, my Lady, I’m afraid that trumps any cards you may have held in this game,” I said.
“If you are dead he won’t be bonded.” Her eyes were black and sparkled from a light within her dark soul.
“If you could kill me without killing him at the same time I’d already be dead,” I countered. “You have no power over me, Lady. You have no true power over Galahad. You only have the threat of violence.”
“He will be my husband,” she said. Her hand twisted and Galahad dropped to his knees, gasping in pain with both hands on the torc and his sword forgotten. “Through him I will rule Albion.”
“Never,” I said. “Even if I have to kill him myself.”
“I would like to see you try,” she said and she clapped her hands. The shocked sudden noise confused me for a moment until Galahad rose.
He’d retrieved his sword and his eyes were utterly blank. I don’t think he saw me even as his weapon crashed against my own. I couldn’t move back fast enough in the small room littered with bodies. He just continued to come toward me with his terrible skill. The weapon in his hand moved with a fast smooth confidence I’d never match in my state. I was tired, hungry, drugged and coming to the end of my resources. Killing simple soldiers I could manage, fighting one of the most dangerous men in Albion didn’t register on my list of tasks for the day. I kept my back to the wall and moved toward The Lady, merely defending myself and not wasting movement, thought or breath on trying to talk to Galahad.
His sword wove in short elliptical circles, too tight for me to break through the constant movement. He pressed forward once more and I dropped my guard while stepping sideways. His sword sliced through the edge of my ribs and he stumbled forward expecting resistance. The pain arced through me and hit my bonded companion. Light flashed in his eyes and he cried out in an echo to my agony, his sword moving even further and into my intended target. The Lady stood directly behind me and in her continued arrogance forgot how much Galahad and I would sacrifice for each other.
Galahad’s sword plunged into her chest. I twisted sideways and felt the sword slice through my flesh and leather armour. Galahad continued to push his blade into The Lady. She stumbled backwards, her eyes wide with shock and pain.
“No,” she whispered.
“Open,” he said. “Open the gate or I kill you now.”
“Kill her anyway,” I said, trying to stop myself bleeding to death.
“I can’t,” Galahad said, still looking at The Lady. “The torc won’t let me.”
“You’re lucid you can do what you like,” I said, fighting to remain on my feet.
“Not lucid, just free while she begins to heal,” he said, his eyes remaining on that coldly beautiful face.
“I will have you,” she snarled.
“Not until Holt is dead and I am mad. Not until I feel his body pressed against mine in the act of love. Not until I have fucked my way through an entire army of men and women,” he snarled in her face. “You thought my father was dangerous. I tell you this,” he said, twisting the sword just a little. “I will see you and your plans go to dust. I will allow my sister to drain this fucking lake and I will see your neck stretch on a gallows in Camelot’s main square. I will be free of you, bitch.” He pushed the rest of the blade into her chest and she shuddered, sinking to her knees.
Galahad turned back to the portal. I watched him, suddenly in awe of the man he was becoming before my eyes. He closed his eyes, took a deep breath and for the first time I saw him use the power Morgana Avallach gave her son. A wash of energy came from his outstretched hands and a haze of multi-hued colour rushed between the stones to settle into a fuzzy grey.
“Come,” he said, holding out his hand to me. With my left hand holding my sword and pressed to my side, now awash with the warmth of my blood, I reached for his hand. He guided me with great care, his eyes dark and moody like his father’s, over the dead between us and the gate.
Just before we stepped through he turned back to The Lady. She knelt in a spreading pool of her own blood. “This is war between us,” he said. “I will not rest until I have found a way to kill you. Nothing is immortal as Balar found to his cost.”
Galahad then helped me carefully through the portal.
The world lurched horribly and I fought the urge to pass out, the bugleweed helping me to deal with the fey power surging around me. When we stepped out the other side of the doorway Severus rushed forward from behind a wall.
“I thought I’d lost you,” he cried out. “What happened?”
I felt him take my weight from Galahad. “The Lady,” I gasped. “She turned up and cut us off but our Prince Charming here saved the day.”
“How?” Severus asked.
“He stabbed me.”
“It was your idea,” Galahad said.
“I don’t understand,” Severus said, trying to stop the bleeding and failing.
“Let’s not worry until we’re back with the horses,” I murmured.
How we made it through the village and back into that wind blasted hell of a desert I don’t know. Galahad’s sanity gradually collapsed in on itself and his distress over the blood now seeping through hastily created bandages was almost enough to wake the dead, never mind the sleeping residents of the village.
Night covered our escape and Severus, bless his strong heart, managed to drag us both back to the horses.
When Galahad was reunited with Sherriff both were overwhelmed and made far too much noise for my liking. I finally managed to force them all into moving and for the first time Severus and I rode with the wind at our backs. Night made it impossible to ride fast but with every step we became a little safer. I knew our tracks would be invisible by dawn so I didn’t bother trying to hide which direction we were going. It would be obvious we’d be putting as much distance as possible between us and the lake.
What we really needed was another portal to Camelot, some food and rest.
CHAPTER SEVEN
Rather than any of those things Severus found us a cave we’d used on the way to the lake. An outcrop of rock acted as the only landmark in the area and we’d found a large cave that sheltered us from the wind and the sand. When we coaxed the horses inside and pushed them to the back, the sound of silence in the cave felt deafening. All three of us slumped on the sandy floor, I held my wound with my left hand but none of us could move to action cleaning and stitching. Galahad placed his head on my lap and in no time Severus lay in his embrace while I held his back. We slept, beyond exhaustion.
“Holt?” Severus shook me awake.
I grunted and found Galahad huddled around himself, staring at me. Severus held the golden box. “I feel like shit,” I murmured.
“I’m not surprised,” Severus said. I moved and the pain in my side made me gasp.
“Fuck,” I lay still and tried to breathe.
“I’ve done what I can but... Well, healing you isn’t easy,” Severus said, there were dark circles around his eyes.
“Help,” Galahad whispered and he started to pull his hair.
“How is he?” I asked Severus from the ground, still lying on my back.
My lucid companion shook his head. “He’s a mess. I tried to ease the madness earlier so he could help with stitching you up but it’s becoming very hard to reach the core of his mind. It’s shrinking or dissolving or something. I don’t know how to help him. We must break the bondage of the torc or at least lessen its power.” Severus rubbed his face and smeared my blood over his left cheek. He grunted but was too tired to do anything – how long had I slept?
“Any suggestions?” I asked. I didn’t add, ‘Preferably ones that don’t involve m
e moving.’
“We need to find someone who understands this and is powerful enough to untangle him from The Lady,” Severus said. I heard the apology in his voice.
I rolled my head back and stared at the ceiling. “They are all dead,” I whispered, meaning Morgana in this instance.
I lay there and tried to think past the hunger, pain, thirst and building depression over my lack of fey power.
“There is one possibility,” Severus said quietly. I already knew he didn’t like his own idea.
I rolled my head back toward him and asked with my eyes. He said, “You can try to use the bonding. How I don’t know but... Well, that’s what she used to break him in the first place.” I watched his nervous fingers pull at a piece of frayed shirt.
“That’s going to lead to one thing, Severus. He and I will become closer,” I said as warning.
“I know, Holt. It’s alright. I am loved by the King of Camelot and the future King of Albion is a part of that. You’ve loved him longer than you’ve known me, he has helped to shape you and I love the shape you’ve become.”
I smiled at him. “You are a remarkable man.”
“And that’s what makes us such a good fit. I cannot be jealous, Holt. You will not leave me for Galahad unless I make you.” Severus spoke calmly and quietly, at peace with his words, his fingers now still.
I felt tears fill my eyes. “You are perfect.”
He scooted toward me and picked up my hand, kissing the back. “You must let go of the past, Holt. We are not the same men. You cannot damage me by loving Galahad.”
I stroked his smooth cheek. “I do love you.”
“I know. Now call your Prince to you so you can save his mind.” He moved away and I looked at Galahad.
Those dark eyes were focussed on me and he repeatedly muttered something under his breath. I felt Severus place a leaf of bugleweed in my hand and I slipped it under my tongue. I closed my eyes the moment the tingle began and I reached out for Galahad the way I’d been doing over the last few months.
Albion's Legacy (Sons Of Camelot Book 3) Page 4
